A GOOD BEGINNING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 255, 22 July 1921, Page 7

A GOOD BEGINNING

FORESTRY IN DOMINION ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LEAGUE The annual meeting of the New Zealand (Foroaitry League was hold last night at tho Dominion Farmers’ Institute. The president (Sir James Wilson) was in tho chair, and there was a representative attendance of members. Presidential Address. In tho course of his address, the president said that tho league had always realised that the "advance agent" was necessary to success. The public generally must be interested in its objects Publift opinion had to be cultivated, so that when any expenditure in connection with the Forestry Department was proposed! it twouidi ho welcomed by all instead of being looked at with misgivings. The Forestry Department had now made a good beginning, and at all times tho league had been anxious to assist it as far as possible. In pursuance of this wish the council -had appointed) Alr.l AV. Lawson as an organiser, and ho had. begun his work in Canterbury with success. Thanks were due to Mr. James Deans, for helping in this work, ho having enlisted the assistance of several enthusiasts and started a branch in Canterbury (which had little native bush when first settled); hence more' had: been done there than, in any district in the way of planting exotics, and a recent report of Mr. Lawson’s showed to what' an extent this had been done. The league was still without knowledge as to the area in plantation in New Zealand, and there should not be much difficulty in procuring this. In the Auckland province, continued the president, considerable interest had been shown in forestry matters, and the league was hopeful that its friends there would join up with it. The question of the site for the School of Forestry was unfortunately, being raised. The league had not expressed any opinion on the subject of a site, but recognised that it was essential to progress that they should have a school and "’twere well it were done quickly!” The council hoped that with Mr. Lawson’s aid, a great addition to its members would result, and l that it would have tho assfstanco of many branches to push on tho good work. The president also stated that at tho last meeting it was suggested that an article on New Zealand Forestry should be published: in the "School Journal,” and he communicated with the editor, who kindly said ho would include in the journal anything supplied on the subject, and this ho had furnished. Tho very best way to create an abiding interest in forestry was to begin with the schools, and they should encourage the children to collect seeds, grow and plant trees, for, as Lowell said, it was part of our duty "to plant a tree.” Sir Francis Bell, together with Captain Ellis and his assistants, had made an excellent beginning with tho work of the Department. He looked upon it as a great thing for tho future work that the sawmillers wore taking such an active interest in the league and working cordially wi’h the Department: nnd it n.ugurod well for tho future of their industry that, instead of resenting the work of the Department. they were prepared to second their efforts. Executive’s Report.

The annual report, which was adopted, stated that the executive had pleasure in recording that Air. A. T. Clark had given an area of bush on Paekakarikl Hill for public use. A letter of appreciation had been sent to Air. Clark. In expressing regret at the death of the late Sir David Hutchins, the report stated: "Unfortunately he died before his work was completed, and ho has left a mass of manuscript from which Part II of his 'New 4 Zealand Forestry’ was to have been compiled. The executive has examined this manuscript, and is of the opinion that, someone with a technical knowledge of the subject should Iw detailed to undertake the work of compilation so that the public may have the benefit of his researches in New Zealand forestry. It understands that the manuscript is now in the possession of the Forest Service, and it is hoped that something will he done in the'matter." The report added: "The executive views with considerable satisfaction tho placing on the Estimates of a sum of money for a school of forestry, and confidently anticipates the early establishment of such a school. It is unfortunate that the question of site has been raised, nnd that the decision has been held over until the return of ths Prime Minister from Englund. In the course of his organisation work, the leagues organiser (Mr. W. Lawson) has been m touch with the leaders of the scout movement and high school authorities and there is every indication that the league will’have the co-operation of l».ie young people in pushing forward its educational side." , . , Tho following resolution was carried: —"That this League urge upon the Government the necessity for promoting during the next session of Parliament the missing of a Forest Art to enable the Department to effectively carry out its policy for the conservation of our rapidly diminishing forest." Election of Officers! The election of officers resulted: President, Sir James Wilson; lion,, treasurer. Air. A. L. Hunt; hon. secretary, Air. F. W. Furkert; auditors, Messrs. . M'Kay anil Little; councillors, lion. D. Buddo (Rangiora), Messrs. J. Denns (Homebush), W D. Hunt (Wellington), L. 0. H. Tripp (AVellington), Newton King (New Plymouth), E. Crosby Smith (Invercargill). J. Orchiston (AVellington), and B. A. Wilson (Alarton).